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Valley Presbyterian Hospital Receives Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace State Recognition Award

With more than 1,500 employees, Valley Presbyterian Hospital is one of the San Fernando Valley's largest full-service acute care facilities and was one of only seven employers in the state to receive the honor.

"Congratulations on receiving the Mother-Baby Friendly State Recognition Award and thank you for supporting breastfeeding families," said Patricia D. Almaguer Auchard, MD, IBCLC, Advocacy Chair, California Breastfeeding Coalition, in notifying the hospital of the award.

The Breastfeeding Coalition, established in 2003 to create a more healthful California through the promotion and support of breastfeeding, presents the award to companies that support their breastfeeding employees by providing written policies that support breastfeeding in the workplace, employee training on those policies, a private place to pump and reasonable break time to pump milk.

"We are honored to receive the Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace State Recognition Award and thank the Breastfeeding Coalition for this tribute to our support of breastfeeding employees," said Gustavo Valdespino, President and CEO of Valley Presbyterian Hospital. "Studies have shown breastfeeding provides significant benefits to women and their children, and we worked together to support breastfeeding as part of our ongoing commitment to the health and wellbeing of all our employees who provide the best care possible to our patients."

To support its breastfeeding employees, Valley Presbyterian Hospital created a Breastfeeding Task Force that included nurses, clinical dietitians, physicians and members of the Valley Presbyterian Hospital foundation. The Task Force recognized the need for a lactation center in the hospital to encourage more mothers to breastfeed and to educate mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding. The hospital established the lactation center in 2010, providing three private spaces for mothers to pump. The center also offers a miniature refrigerator where the mothers can store their breast milk, storage space for pumps and a sink. In addition, a free breastfeeding support group is available to employees who need additional help.

About Valley Presbyterian Hospital

Founded in 1958, Valley Presbyterian Hospital, a non-profit and nonsectarian hospital, has remained focused on meeting the medical needs of the community for over 50 years. While VPH has grown to become one of the largest acute care hospitals in the San Fernando Valley, it continues to provide patient-centered care for a healthier community. The 350-bed facility offers leading-edge technology and a full range of medical services. With 500 physicians representing virtually every specialty and most sub-specialties, VPH provides the latest state-of-the-art treatments to improve and save lives. For more information, visit www.valleypres.org.

Valley Presbyterian Hospital
Julie Reback, 818-902-5711
julie.reback@valleypres.org
or
Norma O'Flaherty, 818-902-5213
norma.oflaherty@valleypres.org